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About Me

I'm an Academic Herald. I'm not a "real" herald; I don't register people's coats of arms (though I can certainly suggest designs for those who might be interested). What I do is study, research, teach, and write about heraldry. And I like to share what I have learned about heraldry, hence this blog. I hope that you'll find it informative, interesting at least occasionally, and worth your time to come back. Got a question? Comments? Feel free to let me know. I'd love to hear from you. You can find my contact information in my Profile.

The MPs were contributing to the ''wanton abuse of Ghana’s Coat of Arms'' said the MP for Amenfi East. In his statement, he described the coat of arms as a ''symbol of precious official and executive value and that nothing should be done to cheapen its importance as a special national heraldic device.'' He noted that although the Flag and Arms Protection Act makes it an offense to use the national arms without license, one often sees the national coat of arms on vehicles and motorbikes as well as T-shirts in addition to other items sold on the internet. He called on the security agencies to stop this illegal use of the country’s coat of arms.

The MP for Sekondi described the coat of arms as an embodiment of the nation which should not be used carelessly and called on the Minister for Justice and Attorney General and the Minister for Interior to take action and restrict its use.

The coat of arms of Ghana, designed by Amon Kotei, was introduced on March 4, 1957 by Queen Elizabeth II.

A number of residents in the Brong-Ahafo region have added their voices to the call by MPs to regulate the use of state emblems and the Ghana coat of arms. Only the President and a few state institutions as well as some personalities have the authority to use these emblems but many people are using the national emblems without any right to do so. The residents said that the appropriate authorities should immediately begin an educational campaign to educate the public to appreciate the appropriate use of national emblems and the coat of arms. They argue that just as no one can legitimately wear a police uniform or cassock unless they have satisfied certain requirements, no one should use the national coat of arms without approval.

"Landscapes are not allowed in Heraldry." And yet, they can be found on a number of coats of arms, including on the famous arms of Horatio Nelson, as the second augmentation to that coat, "on a chief wavy argent a palm tree between a disabled ship and a ruinous battery all issuant from waves of the sea all proper."

(The third, posthumous, augmentation, the word "Trafalgar" on a wavy fess, made the underlying cross flory nearly unidentifiable!)